Shoot-out terror on high st

AN armed policeman fired four shots at a robbery gang’s getaway car after a double bank raid on Friday. Four masked men split into two teams and burst simultaneously into The Cheshire Building Society and the Halifax bank in Droyslden.

AN armed policeman fired four shots at a robbery gang’s getaway car after a double bank raid on Friday.

Four masked men split into two teams and burst simultaneously into The Cheshire Building Society and the Halifax bank in Droyslden.

The banks are side-by-side in the covered Market Street shopping precinct, which was busy with shoppers and workers at the time.

Superintendent Chris Sykes said staff and customers inside were threatened with a sledgehammer and a large knife before the gang fled to a waiting silver Honda Civic.

The car was bearing false registration plates of AD51 FVL and had been stolen in a burglary in Droylsden on March 20.

An armed officer on routine patrol was told of the raid by a member of the public and approached the car.

He was then threatened by one of the robbers with a sawn-off shotgun. Supt Sykes said the officer ‘engaged’ and fired four shots in response. He also revealed that police are also investigating reports that the robbers had fired the shotgun prior to the officer firing back. No one was injured during the robbery and police have checked all hospitals for gunshot admissions.

The bullet-ridden car was found dumped two miles away on Peakdale Avenue.

Supt Sykes said: "The officer approached the getaway car and what we believe to be a sawn-off shotgun was pointed at him. He has then engaged and fired shots at the threat. The getaway car then sped off. We are investigating reports that the shotgun was discharged prior to the gang getting into the car. The officer was highly trained to deal with the threat and we have strong systems in place to support him."

Supt Sykes described the robbery as a ‘well-planned, simultaneous’ raid. The gang — believed to be men aged in their 20s — escaped with a large amount of cash.

He said CCTV footage and a large number of witness reports were being studied.

He said: "The people in both premises were very shocked. The gang are the sort of men we want to capture as soon as possible and put behind bars."

The car has been forensically examined and the results suggest no one was suffered gunshot wounds inside.